Shaping the future of your energy network

Shaping the future of your energy network

As we transition from a Distribution Network Operator to a Distribution System Operator we will actively engage with our stakeholders. Their feedback will shape our thinking as we develop services that will enable the North West to prosper as it moves towards a low carbon future.

On the 1 December we hosted a one day interactive stakeholder event ‘Shaping the Future of your Energy Network’ in collaboration with Carbon Co-op where we asked our stakeholders to help us shape our thinking and plans regarding the future of the energy system.

The event was a mixture of presentations, an interactive question and answer panel and roundtable discussions. Over 60 stakeholders who attended heard presentations from Electricity North West, Carbon Co-op, Regen, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Energy Networks Association.

Presentations from the event are available below.

If you are interested in finding out more about our Distribution System Operator work please email us.

The challenge

The UK is committed to delivering ambitious targets for reductions in carbon emissions and the importance of these targets has created local, regional, national and international momentum and innovation to meet and exceed these targets.

New technology is changing the way that companies, communities and customers generate, distribute and consumer energy. The application of information and communication technology to existing electricity networks is transforming them into increasingly smart energy systems.

Adoption of electric vehicles, solar generation and battery storage isn’t just advantageous but essential. As well as significantly contributing to achieving low carbon targets, these smart energy systems allow people to participate in energy markets in new ways and to share the rewards of this transformation.

From Distribution Network Operator to Distribution System Operator

It’s essential that the policy environment is positive and enables all participants to bring their skills and talents together to enable the UK to meet its low carbon targets in an innovative, inclusive and efficient way. In future, Distribution Network Operators, like Electricity North West, will have a unique role to play as Distribution Systems Operators, both enablers and participants in creating open markets which enable early adoption and implementation of new technologies and commercial opportunities.

Opportunities

These changes present huge potential economic, environmental and social opportunities – as well as great challenges and disruption to the 'business as usual' status quo.